FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 7 (7-12, 3-0 CAA)
Towson 2 (4-19, 0-3 CAA)
 
LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Kevin Opanel went seven strong innings and allowed just one hit as the Monmouth University baseball team beat Towson University 7-2 on Sunday afternoon to complete the three-game sweep in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play.
 
The Hawks struck first in the bottom of the third. Monmouth's first two batters reached via a walk and a base hit. Joey DeMucci was the next batter to step to the plate and when he reached via an error, Wyatt Hunt scored the game's first run on the play. 
 
Towson tied things up as an unearned run scored with two outs in the fifth inning. 
 
Monmouth broke open a tie game in the bottom of the sixth. The Hawks sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs for a 6-1 advantage. DeMucci contributed a two-run single in the inning while Phil Stahl and Harry Padden added RBI base knocks. 
 
Opanel cruised through the first seven innings and was lifted after walking the first batter in the eighth inning. That runner came around to score as Towson made it a 6-2 game. 
 
The Hawks weren't done yet as Chris Walsh singled in the bottom of the eighth and scored on Casey Caufield's RBI single.
 
The Tigers went down in order in the top of the ninth as Monmouth claimed the 7-2 victory.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It was a good win today to close out a great opening weekend.  Kevin Opanel threw the ball well and gave us seven strong. Offensively, we had that five-run big inning; Austin Denlinger got us going with the double and then we were able to stack good at- bats together to give us some breathing room. Phil Stahl once again came through in a big spot with the RBI to break the tie. Overall, a solid weekend for the team."

• Head coach Dean Ehehalt 

- The Hawks picked up their first three-game sweep since joining the CAA and their first three-game sweep since the Hawks took three straight from Merrimack last March. 
- The Hawks now lead the all-time series with Towson, 5-3. Monmouth has won five straight over the Tigers.   
- Phil Stahl had two base hits and now has eight games with multiple hits this season. 
- Joey DeMucci's three RBIs in the contest are a career-high for the sophomore.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth finished with 11 hits to Towson's two in the game. 
- Austin Denlinger's double was his fourth two-base hit of the series.  
- Kevin Opanel picked up his first win as a Hawk. He went seven plus innings and surrendered two runs while striking out five. 
- Dante Ciaramella got the final six outs for the Hawks and allowed just one hit while striking out two.
- Justin Rebok took the loss for Towson as he gave up five runs on eight hits in two innings of relief work. 
 
NEXT UP
Monmouth visit Army on Wednesday, Mar. 27 at 2 p.m.